Glossary

3G (Third Generation) Wireless: The next step in the development of wireless communications. The first generation was analog and the second was digital (CDMA, TDMA, and GSM). Third-generation systems are expected to provide broadband, high-speed data applications, both fixed and mobile.

Access Point: A device that transports data between a wireless network and a wired network (infrastructure).
Acknowledgment: The transmission of a short packet from the receiving device to the sending device to indicate that the data sent has been received error-free.
A/D Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): Converter that uniquely represents all analog input values within a specified total input range by a limited number of digital output codes.
AGC (Automatic Gain Control): A system that holds the gain and, accordingly, the output of a receiver substantially constant in spite of input-signal amplitude fluctuations.
AIN (Advanced Intelligent Networks): Refers to networks that route calls based on database information that can affect the inbound and outbound flow of the call.
Air Time: Actual time spent talking on the wireless telephone. Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of air time they use each month. The more minutes of time spent talking on the phone, the higher the bill.
Alphanumeric: A message or other type of readout containing both letters (alphas) and numbers (numerics). Regarding wireless, alphanumeric memory dial is a special type of dial-from-memory option that displays both the name of the individual and that individual s phone number on the wireless phone handset. The name also can...

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Wireless Broadband Handbook